Review: "The Apartment" by Amanda Black (The Apartment Novels #1)

Note: This ARC was provided by Full Fathom Five via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Apartment is the first book in The Apartment Novels series by first-time author Amanda Black. From what I've gathered, the book started out as Twilight-inspired fan fiction and, based on past experience with books that have followed the same path, some don't translate as well when re-worked as a totally new novel while others shine on their own merit that Edward, Bella, and all things Twilight never even cross your mind. The Apartment undoubtedly falls in the latter category. ^.^

"APARTMENT FOR RENT"

Two strangers. An apartment for rent. Both in the same place at the same time. He's broken and she's a problem solver. He asks for one thing and she gives it to him. Then, he leaves an open invitation for her to return. The outside world isn't welcome in the apartment and they never exchange names or any other information about themselves. However, they can be honest about whatever needs and wants they have, whatever they're thinking or feeling, without fear of recrimination. 

"We're going to meet here and it's going to be real--no pretenses. 

We're going to say what we want and do as we like."

Lily Blake has always put the needs of others ahead of her own. Her caring nature and need to nurture are part of what make her an excellent nurse but they're also why others take advantage of her. She empathizes with those in pain, so when she enters the empty apartment for rent and finds a hauntingly beautiful man in tears, she gets over her shock and apprehension quickly and offers him her help. 

Ethan Foster has been used and betrayed by a woman who turned him against his own family. Ten years later, he returns home but is still feeling as if he no longer has a place in the family that accepts him with open arms and without judgment. When he decides to check out an apartment for rent, hoping to use it as his painting studio, he meets a woman with whom he feels an immediate connection.

I loved the story of two people who have never met but decide to set aside all their inhibitions and bare themselves to each other. They don't know each other's names but they're more open with one another than they are with the people they regularly encounter, in terms of saying and doing whatever it is they want. The minute they enter the apartment and close the door, the rest of the world and all their worries disappear and it's just the two of them--his "beautiful" and her "stranger".

The fact that there's an actual connection between Lily and Ethan via his family makes their situation all the more interesting. As a reader, you're anticipating when and how the anonymity finally disappears and how they'll react when they find out pertinent information about each other. As they spend more time together, the natural curiosity to learn more is there but it becomes a choice on whether they want the reality of their outside lives intruding on what they share together inside what has become their apartment.

A word of warning: this book ends in a cliffhanger. Yes, I was a tad frustrated BUT if the sneak peek at the first chapter of the sequel, The Blank Canvas, is a hint of what's waiting for readers upon its release, the wait, no matter how agonizing, will be so worth it...at least I hope it will be! ^.^ So, I'm going to go ahead and highly recommend The Apartment and give it the five-plus stars it so deserves. This is one of my favorite reads for the year and I hope you'll love it as much as I do. ♥

Release Date: 01 October 2014

Date read: 28 September 2014

Learn more about the promising Amanda Black here.

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